Past Event: A Thousand Cranes

Over the last decade, The Majestic Theatre has produced some of the finest family theater in the region.  In February 2012 the Majestic will revive this popular cornerstone program with the production of A Thousand Cranes by Kathryn Schultz Miller  featuring a cast of local community children.

A Thousand Cranes presents the true and poignant story of Sadako Saski, who was 2 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on her small city of Hiroshima, Japan.  Ten years later Sadako is diagnosed with “radiation sickness”, an aftermath of the bombs effects.  With boundless optimism, Sadako takes an ancient story to heart: If a sick person folds a thousand paper origami cranes the Gods will grant their wish and make them well again.  She begins to fold her thousand.

Before Sadako is able to complete her task, she is visited by the spirit of her Grandmoter.  As if in a dream, Sadako folds a giant crane which comes to life and flies them to the mountain of her ancestors. Once there, Sadako is honored to meet all the spirits of her heritage. Soon Sadako realizes she must stay with these comforting spirits. “But I haven’t folded a thousand cranes yet,” she protests. “It’s better to leave them to others to finish,” her grandmother assures her.

Sadako died on October 25, 1955. Her friends and classmates folded 356 cranes to make a thousand. Sadako’s friends then began to dream of building a monument to her and all the children who were killed by the atom bomb. In 1958 the statue was unveiled in Hiroshima Peace Park. Each year on August 6, the anniversary of the bombing, thousands of people bring paper cranes to adorn the statue. There is Sadako holding a golden crane in outstretched arms. Her wish is engraved on the base of the statue: “This is our cry, this is our prayer, peace in the world.”

Kathryn Schultz Miller created the children’s play of this true story in 1988. Ms. Miller has adapted this children’s play version of A Thousand Cranes for a large cast of young performers, schools, teachers and students. A Thousand Cranes was performed at the Kennedy Center, the Sundance Institute, and has been produced thousands of times the world over.  A Thousand Cranes was selected out of 481 nominations across the US to represent the nation in the American High School Theatre Festival as part of the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Kathryn Schultz Miller co-founded the professional ArtReach Touring Theatre and served as Artistic Director for over 20 years. Most of her 44 plays have been published and have won countless awards. She has won Playwriting Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ohio Arts Council and the Post-Corbett Foundation. Kathy lives in Cincinnati with her husband Barry, who handles orders, soundtracks and website design for Children’s Theatre Plays.com.

A Thousand Cranes will be directed by community newcomer Willow Norton. Ms.  Norton is a Director and Teacher focused on new work development.  Recent directing projects include; S.H.A.V.E.D. at HERE Arts Center and The Philly Fringe, Instructions Included for The Midtown International Festival, REACH for At Hand Theatre Compnay, School House Rock for ACE Academy, In the Way for Philadelphia Young Playwrights, and POP in the Night for At Hand Theatre Company.  Assistant Directing for THE UNDERSTUDY by Theresa Rebeck at The Wilma Theater, Continuous City for The Builders Association at The Kitchen & St. Ann’s Warehouse, Dreams of Friendly Aliens for Abingdon Theatre Company, The Man at the Sea for Emerging Arts Theater Company, and Henry V for Cornish College of the Arts.  As a Teaching Artist, Norton has worked at ACE Academy,  Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Washington Academy of Performing Arts, Cornish College of the Arts, and Brooklyn Kids.  She has also worked for Culture Project, 3101 Arts, and The Painted Bride.